abode vs. Ring Alarm Security System View

Note: abode now offers email and phone support to all of its customers regardless of their monitoring plan.

Looking for a new kind of home security? You’ve come to the right place. The world first met Ring Alarm on Shark Tank, where they left without a deal. After a rebranding and an additional five million in sales, they were purchased by Amazon in 2018— no big deal. Competing against Ring Alarm is abode, a startup founded in 2014 by a former ADT executive who wanted to create a security system that users could totally customize based on their wants and needs. Neither system disappoints, so this is going to be an interesting review.

Today, I’m comparing the abode Essentials Starter Kit with the Ring Alarm Security Kit in terms of system components, installation, professional monitoring, customer support, and their mobile apps. Who will win? Keep reading to find out.

System Components of abode vs. Ring Alarm

abode vs. Ring System Components

I bought the abode Essentials Starter Kit and the Ring Alarm Security Kit. I also threw in the abode Cam to my Starter Kit. Both systems come with base stations, which abode calls a gateway, entry sensors, motion sensors, and security cameras. Ring throws in a keypad, range extender, and the Ring Video Doorbell 2, while abode also gives you a key fob to control your system remotely.

Installing abode vs. Ring Alarm

You’ll install both the abode and the Ring Alarm systems yourself, so I tested it out to make sure the process was easy and breezy.

Installing abode

The abode Motion Sensor Installed on a Wall

As there aren’t many system components, installing abode didn’t take me too long. You’ll follow step-by-step instructions either on the mobile or web app. The first thing you’ll install is the Gateway, which has the activation code. All you have to do is plug in the ethernet and power adapters. Next, you’ll install the motion detector and entry sensors, both peel-and-stick. Finally, you’ll install the camera, which was much easier using the web app over the mobile app. Just plug the camera into its ethernet adapter, connect it to Wi-Fi and boom— you’ve got a home security system!

Installing Ring Alarm

Installing the Ring Alarm Motion Detector

You’ll begin installing your Ring Alarm system by plugging in the base station, which will light up. Next, you either connect it to Wi-Fi or hardwire it via an ethernet cable (I chose Wi-Fi). Then you have to sync the rest of the system with the base station. I recommend syncing each device on at a time. I tried to sync multiple at once and it caused a lot of confusion. If you follow the instructions and don’t try to do too much like me, the process should only take about ten minutes.

Top System for Installation

This was a tough one, as they’re pretty neck-in-neck, but I’m going to go with abode for slightly easier installation.

Professional Monitoring with abode vs. Ring Alarm

With abode and Ring Alarm, you have the flexibility to self-monitor through your app or get 24/7 professional monitoring, but I recommend the latter. While avoiding monthly fees is nice, you aren’t always going to be around to handle your home’s security issues. Say you’re on vacation and someone breaks in. You’ll be alerted via a mobile notification, of course, but so will your professional monitoring team. They’ll be around to handle the situation in terms of contacting the police (remember that if you’re away, you won’t be able to contact your local authorities).

abode vs. Ring Alarm Monitoring Options

abode vs Ring Monitoring

To get 24/7 professional monitoring, you’ll need to either do the abode Secure Plan or the Ring Protect Plus Plan. Both plans also give you cellular backup which ensures that your system will stay on even if the power goes out. What plan you pick will also affect your amount of cloud storage, and for abode, the types of customer support you get (more on this later).

As you can see, Ring’s plans are a lot more reasonably priced. 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup costs three times as much with abode than it does with Ring per month, which is a pretty giant leap. The one thing abode does offer which Ring, and all other security companies I’ve reviews lacks is on-demand professional monitoring.

For only eight dollars for three days or $15 a week, you can get abode’s professional monitoring à la carte. This is great for someone that wants to get their feet wet but isn’t sure if they want to commit to professional monitoring, or someone that only needs it sometimes but not others. I love that abode gives you so much flexibility here, and I urge more companies to follow suit!

abode vs. Ring Alarm Contracts

Both abode and Ring offer month-to-month contracting, which I love because it doesn’t force the customer into a big commitment. I’m not saying I’m a commitment-phobe, but I do like to keep my options open. Abode also offers a yearly plan which will give you some nice savings as well. Stay humble, abode.

abode vs. Ring Alarm Moving Policies

As both abode and Ring have DIY installation, if you’re moving to a new crib you can just pick up your system and move it yourself. You won’t have to pay any fees, a huge advantage of DIY.

Top System for Monitoring

Although I absolutely love the idea of on-demand professional monitoring, I’m going to have to give the win to Ring for professional monitoring. Their prices are way more affordable than abode’s and you get basically the same features. And at the end of the day, I don’t want to be spending an extra $10 a month on my home’s security. I want to spend it on more important things, like pizza and haircuts!

abode vs. Ring Alarm Customer Support

Remember when I promised I’d get back to customer support? Now is that time. With abode, the types of customer support will change based on which plan you choose. If you don’t do a paid monthly plan, you’ll only be able to reach out to customer support via email or their support site— you won’t be able to call them directly. Both of the paid plans allow you to call customer support directly, but with the top-tier Secure plan, your calls will be prioritized. I’m not thrilled that abode doesn’t let all of its customers call them directly for help, so this is a definite negative for abode.

Ring, on the other hand, has a more typical customer support system. All customers will be able to call them directly over the phone or check out their online FAQ’s.

What do real customers think of abode and Ring’s customer support? Currently, the abode Essentials Starter Kit has a 4.3 out of five star Amazon rating, with about 3/4 of the ratings at a perfect five stars. Out of the eight reviews that mentioned customer support specifically, half were positive and half were negative, which wasn’t the most promising thing in the world. The Ring Alarm system I bought has a 4.4 rating on Amazon from over 1,100 reviews. Out of the six reviews that mentioned customer support, four were positive, or two-thirds.

Unfortunately, abode didn’t have any Google reviews that I could find, but Ring Alarm has a Google rating of 3.6 at this time. Again, out of the 18 reviews that mentioned customer support, exactly half were positive and half were negative. It really seems like your experience with both abode and Ring’s customer support team depends on who you get.

Top System for Customer Support

Overall, I’m going to give abode the crown for customer support because of its higher overall rating. Unfortunately, it seems like neither company has consistently good customer support. If you’re looking for the best customer support, you might want to check out Frontpoint.

abode vs. Ring Alarm Apps

abode vs. Ring Apps

Finally, I want to compare abode and Ring’s apps. If you’re not home or you’re just feel a bit sluggish, it’s how you’ll monitor and control your security system, so a good app is a necessity. Let’s see how they stack up.

The abode App

abode App. Photo provided by abode.

From the abode app, you’ll be able to livestream footage, receive notifications, and control any connected devices you have. The app has a great 4.2 star rating from the Google Play store and an okay 3.1 star rating from the Apple store.

The Ring—Always Home App

The Ring— Always Home App

From the Ring— Always Home app, you’ll be able to speak through your Video Doorbell or two-way audio on your camera, livestream footage, control connected devices, receive notifications, and even receive crime and safety alerts from your neighborhood. The app has ratings of 3.3 on both the Apple and Google Play stores, which is pretty middle of the road. Many people had issues with not being able to turn off notifications or not being able to turn on notifications, both huge issues.

Top System App

Overall, abode has a better app than Ring. The customer reviews do not lie! However, for iPhones, the Ring app is higher rated.

Recap of abode vs. Ring Alarm

This is a tough call. While abode has a better app, superior customer support, and easier installation, Ring does take the crown for professional monitoring, equally as important. Overall though, I would recommend abode over Ring Alarm, despite its more expensive professional monitoring.

Still not convinced? Let me break it down.

Pick abode if you’d like…

Better app for Android users: The abode app has higher ratings than the Ring— Always Home app on the Google Play store.

On-demand professional monitoring: Only abode lets you pay for three days or a week of professional monitoring.

CUE home automations: You’ll be able to have your connected devices trigger each other, making your life even more convenient.

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Gabe Turner is an attorney and journalist with a passion for home tech and secure, efficient living. Since graduating from NYU Law, he has maintained a paradoxical existence of trying to live life adventurously while remaining staunchly risk-averse. He is torn by the dual desires of wanting to only be in Brooklyn writing about housing policy and smart home tech and aspiring to visit his friends scattered across the globe. Gabe believes that stable, safe communities are the cornerstone to a vibrant and healthy society, and it is this passion that brought him to contribute to Security Baron.